Co-founding members Charlie Fitzgerald and Rhii Williams may have disbanded Little Thief, but they found something looser, louder, and more vulnerable. As Oswald Slain—a pretty cool addition to Bristol’s alternative rock scene—they make a bold, self-assured debut with BUCKY, an eight-track burst of nostalgic grit and late-night honesty.

The album feels alive and unfiltered, a warm hum of sleazy rhythms and worn-down guitars with a distinctively modern ache. Personally, I especially like the raw and direct vocals, which match the lyrics that sting and soothe in equal measure. The tracks wrestle with aging, self-acceptance, and the small absurdities of modern life—capturing the time frame between frustration and freedom—with attention to nostalgia, imperfection, and the messy beauty of growing up without losing your spark. Wholehearted confessionals wrapped in fuzz and swagger.

BUCKY, produced by Ryan Rogers, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP (self-released).

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